Posted on Tue, Jul. 19, 2005
Veteran Marshall latest addition
Cavs need his 3-point shooting ability. Interest remains in point guards
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sports writer
The extreme makeover of the Cavaliers' roster is in full swing, and the end might not yet be in sight.
With their third free-agent pickup of the summer, the Cavaliers got an oral commitment from 6-foot-9 forward Donyell Marshall on Tuesday. Along with shooting guard Larry Hughes and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Marshall will sign Friday when the NBA moratorium period lifts.
League insiders said Marshall will get a four-year deal worth about $21 million.
He brings a reliable outside shot, a veteran presence and the ability to play power forward and center. He averaged 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting a career-best 42 percent from 3-point range as the top reserve for the Toronto Raptors last season. Marshall, 32, has been a full-time starter for much of his 11-year career.
Whether he will be a starter or a backup is yet to be seen. With his acquisition, the Cavaliers might look to move starting power forward Drew Gooden either in a sign-and-trade deal for a point guard, straight up for a point guard or, perhaps, a swap to free up additional salary-cap space.
The Cavaliers are believed to still have about $3.5 million in salary-cap space based on a cap figure of $49 million. That number could be higher when the cap number is announced Thursday.
Widely reported as being higher, NBA insiders report that Hughes' actual contract is for about $60 million over five years with a starting number of $10.3 million this season. Ilgauskas' deal, for five years and about $55 million, is believed to start at around $9 million.
The Cavaliers probably could use their remaining money to land European star point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius. A shooting specialist, known for his fiery leadership skills but not for his defense, he is regarded as the most NBA-ready European prospect.
The Cavaliers, though, still are going ahead with a planned visit Thursday with Los Angeles Clippers restricted free agent Marko Jaric, which hints that general manager Danny Ferry might still have grand plans. It likely will cost significantly more than $3.5 million to get the highly versatile 6-7 Jaric to sign an offer sheet.
``We're going to hang in there with them and see what develops,'' Jaric's agent, Bill Duffy, said Tuesday. ``I think they're still looking at a lot of options.''
Marshall, too, had options and was being pursued by several teams. The power forward market, though, seemed to fall into place late Monday. The New Jersey Nets came to the verge of an agreement with Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the Houston Rockets reached a deal with Stromile Swift, and Marshall and the Cavaliers reached accord.
He will bring a much needed 3-point shooting threat and experience, both of which were major needs.
``Donyell wanted to go to a team that was put together to win, it was very important to him at this stage of his career,'' Marshall's agent, Andy Miller, said. ``He's a veteran who has seen it all and done it all. He's prepared to do whatever the team needs of him. Even if that means starting, coming off the bench, playing backup (forward) or (center).''
James gets agent
Rumored for months, Cavaliers star LeBron James has hired Philadelphia-based lawyer Leon Rose as his new agent, a person close to him said. Rose has been close with James for some time and represents stars Allen Iverson and Richard Hamilton among others. James, who parted ways with agent Aaron Goodwin after the season, also has hired a public relations firm. His management will be handled by Four Horsemen Management, a new company started by his close friends.
